“I was an Academic in Aleppo, Now Need Permission to Leave Urfa”

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“I must obtain warrant from governorate when  I want to come to İstanbul from Urfa. I could only come with a 15-day warrant. When I asked of the reason, they said, ‘We don’t want you to leave Turkey for Europe’. I cannot move neither inside nor outside Turkey. Turkey is a prison where I am locked inside”.

Rana Safaa Sayah, a Support to Life Association worker, spoke at the panel titled “Now It’s Time to Listen” at Bilgi University started her speech saying “Now it’s time to speak and speak out loud” in reference to the title.

Her story which she told after the panel is an exemplary of difficulties Syrian refugees go through.

Immigration from Aleppo to Urfa

Sayah told she is an academic at Aleppo University, Department of English Literature and that came to Urfa three years ago with her family.

“We haven’t participated the [Syrian civil] war but civilians injured; my brother was injured in war. We came to Urfa with my siblings and parent for his treatment. We had relatives here.

“My brother went to Germany for a better treatment. My other siblings also went to Sweden and Norway.

“Meanwhile my father was wounded as well and the doctors said they had to cut one of his feet. He is now disabled. His treatment should continue but there is no support. I am the only one who financially support my family. I stayed here since I couldn’t leave my parents behind”.

Neither can work, nor can leave

Staying in Turkey is out of a necessity for her. She said it is not possible for her to work at a university in Turkey since she is not granted a work permit.

“We have capacity, the government should integrate us but this is not happening. When I obtain warrant to leave Urfa, they say they worry that I will leave for Europe. They don’t let me leave so I can work”.

She expressed that her siblings leaving for Europe are doing fine:

“My sister had lost her husband in the war. She went to Sweden with her son who is 5 years old now. They receive cash support, they have social security, going to language course, and learned Swedish in two years. Her son is going to kindergarten. There are no such things here, but on the contrary we are being denigrated”.

Her brothers will apply to the United Nations. She considers going abroad in case they receive a positive result from the application. (BK/HK/TK)